Happy Guy Fawkes Night (Bonfore Night)
Happy Guy Fawkes Night all. Otherwise known as Bonfire Night.
Exactly 400 years ago today on 5th November 1605 Guy Fawkes or Guido Fawkes which was his true name was part of a conspiracy to blow up the English houses or parliament at a time when the King, all the ministers, the Lord the top bishops and top judges of the land would all be inside.
The houses of parliament back then were not the ones most people know today and were much older buildings which had served for government for the country.
The conspirators formed the Gunpowder plot out of frustration with the way Catholics were being treated in England. At a time after King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I (just 2 years since her death) Catholics were second class citizens with no rights to end into law, the army or to even practise their faith. They were forced to go to Protestant services and sermons from Catholic priests were illegal.
The plotters took up the lease of a house nearby and later and empty chamber under the house of Lords itself and brought in 36 barrels of gunpowder. Enough to blow the buildings sky high and kill all within.
However due to a plague scare the opening of parliament was put off some time. During this time one of the plotters sent a letter to a Catholic Lord warning him to find an excuse not to attend parliament. He took this letter to agents of the King and they sent soldiers who went in search of the plot and found Guy Fawkes the night before they were due to blow up parliament with the barrels of Gun Powder. He was tortured (something banned in England unless special permission was given by the King) and after many days revealed the entire plot and the co-conspirators. The rest were either rounded up or killed defending themselves and the survivors were put on trial and sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered.
It is easy to feel sorry for these men. They were frustrated with a nation that persecuted Catholics and wanted to do something about it. and no doubt they were brave men fighting for a cause. But they were also bad men. Not only would the King and his Government be killed, many in parliament good men and sympathisers but the explosion no doubt would have been so big it would have destroyed the houses around it and caused a fire to sweep throughout London. Many innocent would have died.
Though perhaps we look upon them less harshly in this day and age they were the equivalent of terrorists and had they succeeded it would have been the 9/11 of the time.
Since then parliament used the even as spin to keep the Catholics in England suppressed and also as a means of fear to keep the populous under control. (Similarities can be seen with the American government today)
If the plot had succeeded then it is doubted it would have achieved the aim the plotters hoped for. Likely it would have created a power vacuum but the outrage from the majority Protestant country would have probably driven out Catholics from the country for good and many would have been hunted down and killed.
People also started to celebrate on the anniversary Guy Fawkes was caught by having large bonfires. Children would create a Guy our of straw and old clothes and in the days leading up to Bonfire night ask for a "Penny for the Guy" hoping those that pass by would give them money. (These day children expect a lot more than a penny to be given) then on Bonfire night they would put their Guy on a Bonfire to be burnt. In more modern times since Victorian times fireworks are set off as well and huge public displays are held in parks all around the country. The fireworks representing the gunpowder intended to blow up parliament and what might have been.
These days some question the relevance of the festival and say it is a rather macabre one. However it has become something that children and adults alike enjoy and gives an excuse to enjoy fireworks and have a little fun celebrating a terrorist act foiled.
Remember, remember the fifth of November,
gunpowder, treason and plot,
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes,
'twas his intent
to blow up the King and the Parliament.
Three score barrels of powder below,
Poor old England to overthrow:
By God's providence he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, make the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!
Hip hip hoorah!
A penny loaf to feed the Pope.
A farthing o' cheese to choke him.
A pint of beer to rinse it down.
A faggot of sticks to burn him.
Burn him in a tub of tar.
Burn him like a blazing star.
Burn his body from his head.
Then we'll say ol' Pope is dead.
Hip hip hoorah!
Hip hip hoorah!
Official Parliment Facts on the Gunpowder Plot
Exactly 400 years ago today on 5th November 1605 Guy Fawkes or Guido Fawkes which was his true name was part of a conspiracy to blow up the English houses or parliament at a time when the King, all the ministers, the Lord the top bishops and top judges of the land would all be inside.
The houses of parliament back then were not the ones most people know today and were much older buildings which had served for government for the country.
The conspirators formed the Gunpowder plot out of frustration with the way Catholics were being treated in England. At a time after King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I (just 2 years since her death) Catholics were second class citizens with no rights to end into law, the army or to even practise their faith. They were forced to go to Protestant services and sermons from Catholic priests were illegal.
The plotters took up the lease of a house nearby and later and empty chamber under the house of Lords itself and brought in 36 barrels of gunpowder. Enough to blow the buildings sky high and kill all within.
However due to a plague scare the opening of parliament was put off some time. During this time one of the plotters sent a letter to a Catholic Lord warning him to find an excuse not to attend parliament. He took this letter to agents of the King and they sent soldiers who went in search of the plot and found Guy Fawkes the night before they were due to blow up parliament with the barrels of Gun Powder. He was tortured (something banned in England unless special permission was given by the King) and after many days revealed the entire plot and the co-conspirators. The rest were either rounded up or killed defending themselves and the survivors were put on trial and sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered.
It is easy to feel sorry for these men. They were frustrated with a nation that persecuted Catholics and wanted to do something about it. and no doubt they were brave men fighting for a cause. But they were also bad men. Not only would the King and his Government be killed, many in parliament good men and sympathisers but the explosion no doubt would have been so big it would have destroyed the houses around it and caused a fire to sweep throughout London. Many innocent would have died.
Though perhaps we look upon them less harshly in this day and age they were the equivalent of terrorists and had they succeeded it would have been the 9/11 of the time.
Since then parliament used the even as spin to keep the Catholics in England suppressed and also as a means of fear to keep the populous under control. (Similarities can be seen with the American government today)
If the plot had succeeded then it is doubted it would have achieved the aim the plotters hoped for. Likely it would have created a power vacuum but the outrage from the majority Protestant country would have probably driven out Catholics from the country for good and many would have been hunted down and killed.
People also started to celebrate on the anniversary Guy Fawkes was caught by having large bonfires. Children would create a Guy our of straw and old clothes and in the days leading up to Bonfire night ask for a "Penny for the Guy" hoping those that pass by would give them money. (These day children expect a lot more than a penny to be given) then on Bonfire night they would put their Guy on a Bonfire to be burnt. In more modern times since Victorian times fireworks are set off as well and huge public displays are held in parks all around the country. The fireworks representing the gunpowder intended to blow up parliament and what might have been.
These days some question the relevance of the festival and say it is a rather macabre one. However it has become something that children and adults alike enjoy and gives an excuse to enjoy fireworks and have a little fun celebrating a terrorist act foiled.
Remember, remember the fifth of November,
gunpowder, treason and plot,
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes,
'twas his intent
to blow up the King and the Parliament.
Three score barrels of powder below,
Poor old England to overthrow:
By God's providence he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, make the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!
Hip hip hoorah!
A penny loaf to feed the Pope.
A farthing o' cheese to choke him.
A pint of beer to rinse it down.
A faggot of sticks to burn him.
Burn him in a tub of tar.
Burn him like a blazing star.
Burn his body from his head.
Then we'll say ol' Pope is dead.
Hip hip hoorah!
Hip hip hoorah!
Official Parliment Facts on the Gunpowder Plot